A post-analysis of Covid-19 effects on the economic livelihoods and business continuity of enterprising street survivalists in Harare, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Abstract

The advent of the Covid-19 significantly shocked the global supply chains through abrupt business closures pushed by series of lockdowns. Income streams were restricted and became inconsistent. This is well documented especially for formal businesses. There is scarcity of scholarly work on how informal businesses, which support millions of families in Zimbabwe, were affected by the pandemic. In light of this, the current study provides a post-analysis of the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on street survivalist entrepreneurs in Harare, Zimbabwe. Employing a qualitative approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with six purposively sampled participants to explore how lockdowns and other World Health Organization (WHO) preventive measures affected their livelihoods, business continuity, and overall wellbeing. Thematic analysis revealed that COVID-19 severely disrupted supply chains, constrained income-generating opportunities, and heightened vulnerability among informal traders. Key themes emerging from the data include: (1) disruption of business operations and supply networks; (2) significant reduction in household income and food security; (3) limited government and institutional support for informal traders; and (4) uncertainty surrounding post-pandemic business recovery. The participants indicated that they experienced psychological distress due to income loss and food insecurity, with some forced to diversify into unsustainable or labor-intensive alternatives. The findings highlight that despite their vital contribution to Zimbabwe’s urban economy, street entrepreneurs were largely excluded from official relief programs. The paper concludes that the absence of targeted interventions exacerbated social and economic inequalities among informal workers. It recommends enhanced policy inclusion of informal enterprises in disaster preparedness and recovery frameworks to promote resilience and sustainable livelihoods. The study contributes to the limited body of literature on the informal sector’s vulnerability to pandemics, particularly within the African context.